Control device and method of making the same

ABSTRACT

A control device and method of making the same are provided, the control device comprising two generally flat and rectangular circuit boards each having a component carrying side and an opposite solder side, each circuit board having a peripheral edge, and mounting structure holding the two circuit boards in spaced apart generally parallel relation with certain sides thereof facing each other, the mounting structure comprising a bracket unit generally engaging and encircling the peripheral edges of the two circuit boards so as to generally close the space between the two circuit boards around generally the entire peripheral edges thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a new control device having unique means forholding the circuit boards thereof in spaced apart generally parallelrelation and to a new method of making such a new control device.

2. Prior Art Statement

It is known to provide a control device comprising two generally flatand rectangular circuit boards each having a component carrying side andan opposite solder side, each circuit board having peripheral edgemeans, and mounting means holding the two circuit boards in spaced apartgenerally parallel relation with certain sides thereof facing eachother, the mounting means comprising small spaced apart standoff itemsdisposed about the peripheral edge means of the two boards, such asposts and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the features of this invention to provide a new controldevice having unique mounting means holding the two circuit boardsthereof in spaced apart generally parallel relation.

In particular, it was found according to the teachings of this inventionthat a mounting means can be provided that will not only hold the twocircuit boards in the spaced apart generally parallel relation thereof,but also the mounting means can generally engage and encircle theperipheral edge means of the two circuit boards so as to generally closethe space between the two circuit boards around generally the entireperipheral edge means thereof.

For example, one embodiment of this invention comprises a control devicecomprising two generally flat and rectangular circuit boards each havinga component carrying side and an opposite solder side, each circuitboard having peripheral edge means, and mounting means holding the twocircuit boards in spaced apart generally parallel relation with certainsides thereof facing each other, the mounting means comprising bracketmeans generally engaging and encircling the peripheral edge means of thetwo circuit boards so as to generally close the space between the twocircuit boards around generally the entire peripheral edge meansthereof.

It is another feature of this invention to form the bracket means for acontrol device from a plurality of symmetrical bracket members.

For example, another embodiment of this invention comprises a controldevice comprising two generally flat and rectangular circuit boards eachhaving a component carrying side and an opposite solder side, eachcircuit board having peripheral edge means, and mounting means holdingthe two circuit boards in spaced apart generally parallel relation withcertain sides thereof facing each other, the mounting means comprisingtwo like U-shaped bracket members each having a cross member and a pairof spaced apart substantially parallel legs provided with free endsfacing the free ends of the other bracket member, the cross member andthe legs of each bracket member engaging the peripheral edge means ofthe two circuit boards.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new controldevice having one or more of the novel features of this invention as setforth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new method of makingsuch a control device, the method of this invention having one or moreof the novel features of this invention as set forth above orhereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a control device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another control device of thisinvention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the circuit board means of the control devicesof this invention.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the circuit boardmeans of FIG. 3 having various components of the control device mountedto the component mounting side thereof.

FIG. 5 is a view of the opposite side of the circuit board means of FIG.4 and illustrates the solder on that side thereof.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates how the circuit boardmeans is broken to form two circuit boards interconnected together inspaced apart and coplanar relation.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the circuit boardmeans of FIG. 6 after the broken away parts thereof have been removed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates how thetwo interconnected circuit boards are, in effect, folded so as to be inspaced apart parallel relation.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the mounting meansand the front cover structure that is to be interconnected to thecircuit board means of FIG. 8 to complete the control device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 and illustrates the mounting meanssecured to the two circuit boards with the cover means being disposed inspaced relation thereto.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 and illustrates the control deviceof FIG. 2 with certain parts thereof being disposed in an explodedmanner.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary front view of part of the control device ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 13--13 ofFIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates anothercontrol device of this invention.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of certain parts of the controldevice of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the cover member of the control device of FIG.14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustratedand described as being particularly adapted to provide a control devicefor a cooking apparatus, it is to be understood that the variousfeatures of this invention can be utilized singly or in variouscombinations thereof to provide control devices for other types ofapparatus as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variey of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 9, a new control device of this inventionis generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises twogenerally flat and rectangular circuit boards 21 and 22 each having acomponent carrying side 23 and an opposite solder side 24. Each circuitboard 21 and 22 has peripheral edge means 25.

The control device 20 also comprises a pair of like U-shaped bracketmembers 26 which comprise mounting means or bracket means 27 that holdthe two circuit boards 21 and 22 in spaced apart generally parallelrelation with the solder sides 24 thereof facing each other, the bracketmeans 27 generally engaging and encircling the peripheral edge means 25of the two circuit boards 21 and 22 so as to generally close a space 28between the two circuit boards 21 and 22 around generally the entireperipheral edge means 25 thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the control device 20 has a plurality ofdifferent components 29 mounted on the component side 23 of the circuitboard 21 and a plurality of other different components 29 mounted on thecomponent side 23 of the circuit board 22, one of the components 29 onthe circuit board 21 comprising a vacuum fluorescent display and isgiven the reference numeral 30 in FIG. 10. The vacuum fluorescentdisplay 30 indicates conditions that have been selected by an operatorof the control device 20, such as through use of one of the components29 that comprises a rotary switch means 31 in FIG. 10 as well as thecomponents 29 that comprise tactile switch means 32 of the circuit board21 all in a manner well known in the art. For example, see the U.S.patent to Kadwell et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,215, whereby this U. S.patent is being incorporated into this disclosure by this referencethereto.

Therefore, since the use of a control device for operating a cookingapparatus is well known in the art, a further description of thecomponents 29 and their electrical circuitry provided therewith by thecircuit boards 21 and 22 need not be further set forth except wherebelieved necessary to more fully understand the various features of thisinvention.

The control device 20 of this invention further comprises a cover member33 that is adapted to be secured to the mounting means 27 of the controldevice 20 in a manner hereinafter set forth so as to cover the componentside 23 of the circuit board 21 while exposing the vacuum fluorescentdisplay 30 through a window 34 formed therethrough as illustrated inFIG. 1. A plurality of push button means 35 are carried by the covermember 33 to respectively align with the tactile switch means 32 tooperate the same when the respective push button 35 is pushed toward thecircuit board 21 in a manner well known in the art. In addition, it canbe seen that the cover means 33 has an opening 36 passing therethroughthrough which a shaft means 37 of the rotary switch 31 can project inthe manner illustrated in FIG. 1 to have a suitable control knob (notshown) disposed thereon for rotating the shaft means 37 and, thus,setting the rotary switch means 29 all in a manner well known in theart. For example, see the U.S. patent to Fowler et al, U.S. Pat. No.4,625,084, whereby this U. S. patent is also being incorporated intothis disclosure by this reference thereto.

The circuit boards 21 and 22 of the control device 20 of this inventionare formed from a single one-piece circuit board means of conventionalmaterial that is generally indicated by the reference numeral 38 inFIGS. 3-5, the board means 38 being suitably cut to define a centralbreakaway section 39 that initially integrally interconnects the twocircuit boards 21 and 22 together. The breakaway section 39 is definedby spaced apart cuts 40 and spaced apart holes 41 arranged throughoutthe length of two spaced line areas 42 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Inaddition, end members 43 of the circuit board 38 are each integrallyjoined to both circuit boards 21 and 22 in the areas 44 that have spacedapart holes 41 therethrough and to the center breakaway part 39 in thearea 45 that likewise has a breakaway hole 41 therebetween, each sidesection 43 being separated between the areas 44 and 45 by cutawaysections 46 and being separated from the outer integral section 44 tothe exterior of the board means 38 by cutaway sect ions 47.

The cutaway sections 46 and 47 in the board means 38 define notches thatare generally indicated by the reference numeral 48 in the resultingperipheral edge means 25 of the boards 21 and 22 which will cooperatewith respective snap-fit ledge means 49, FIG. 9, on legs 50 of theU-shaped bracket members 26, each bracket member 26 having asubstantially straight cross member 51 thereof interconnecting to itsrespective two generally parallel legs 50 thereof at generally rightangles relative thereto.

The circuit board means 38 as illustrated in FIG. 3 defines two outeredge means 52 that respectively have a plurality of outwardly directedsubstantially rectangular tabs or tongues 53 extending outwardlytherefrom in spaced apart relation, there being three such tabs 53 foreach edge 52 of the circuit board 38. The breakaway lines 42 of thecentral part 39 of the board means 38 define in the areas 54 thereofsimilar tab structure 53 which will be formed when the central section39 is broken therefrom at the holes 41 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7whereby each circuit board 21 or 22 will have three tabs 53 along theupper and lower edges 55 and 56 thereof as illustrated in FIG. 9 withthe tabs 53 of the edges 55 and 56 being in aligned relation asillustrated.

While the circuit board means 38 is in the one-piece structureillustrated in FIG. 3, the components 29 can be mounted to the componentmounting sides 23 of the circuit board portions 22 and 21 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 4 by automatic machines or manually in a manner wellknown in the art so that subsequently solder can be applied to thesolder sides 24 of the circuit board portions 21 and 22 of the circuitboard means 38 as illustrated by the solder 57 in FIG. 5 also in amanner well known in the art, such as by conventional wave solderingmeans.

It can be seen in FIG. 4 that the two circuit board sections 21 and 22of the one-piece circuit board means 38 are interconnected together by aplurality of wires 58 that are disposed in spaced apart relation and inclusters 59 which respectively span the cut through portions 40 of thelines 42 for the central section 39 of the board means 38, the wires 58forming part of the electrical circuit means for the components 29 ormerely being for an interconnecting purpose of the boards 21 and 22 aswill be apparent hereinafter or in a combination thereof as desired.

In any event, it can be seen that the components 29 in cooperation withthe solder means 57 and the printed circuit means (not shown) on theboard means 21 and 22 provide a functional arrangement that can betested in the condition of FIGS. 4 and 5 before the sections 39 and 43are broken away therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 6 by any suitablemachine operation or manual operation as desired.

For example, after a suitable solder inspection of the circuit boardmeans 38, an in circuit test can be applied to the board means 38 aswell as a function test of the components 29 on the board means 38, ifdesired.

Thereafter, the sections 39 and 43 are broken away in any suitablemanner as illustrated in FIG. 6 so that the two circuit boards 21 and 22are now disposed in spaced apart coplanar relation and held in suchcondition by the wires 58.

The structure illustrated in FIG. 7 is then, in effect, folded in halfso that the wires 58 are bent into the condition illustrated in FIG. 8so that the circuit boards 21 and 22 are disposed in a generallyparallel spaced apart relation as well as in aligned relation to havethe U-shaped bracket members 26 subsequently interconnected thereto.

While the U-shaped bracket member 26 of this invention can be formed ofany suitable material, one working embodiment thereof is formed of aplastic material sold by the General Electric Company of Schenectady,N.Y. as General Electric Lexan ML 4291 that is molded into theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 9 so that the cross member 51 and legs50 thereof have a nominal wall thickness of approximately 0.075 of aninch with the cross member 51 being approxiamtely 6.850 inches long andthe legs 50 being approximately 1.485 inches long, the cross member 51and legs 50 being respectively approximately 0.655 of an inch andapproximately 0.510 of an inch wide.

However, it is to be understood that the bracket means 27 of thisinvention can have other configurations and dimensions as desired andcan be formed of materials other than plastic materials, if desired.

The cross member 51 of each U-shaped bracket member 26 has an insidesurface 60 provided with upstanding flange means 61 at each side edgemeans thereof that cooperate with spaced flanges 62 to define channelareas 63 that respectively lead to slot means 64 passing through thecross member 51 so as to receive respective tabs 53 of the particularcircuit board 21 or 22 therein as illustrated in FIG. 10 whereby notonly is each tab 53 held within its respective slot 64, but also thattab 53 is held in the respective channel 63 between the flange means 61and 62 to fully support the peripheral edge means 25 of the circuitboards 21 and 22 along the top and bottom edges 55 and 56 thereof asillustrated in FIG. 10.

The surface 60 of the cross member 51 is provided with a plurality ofribs 64' between the flanges 61 as illustrated in FIG. 9 for a purposehereinafter set forth.

The flanges 61 of the cross members 51 overlap the non-tabbed portions65 of the top and bottom edges 55 and 56 of the peripheral edge means 25of the circuit boards 21 and 22 that have the non-tabbed edges 65disposed against the ribs 64' when the tabs 53 are fully received intheir respective slots 64 as illustrated.

Each leg 50 of each U-shaped bracket member 26 has two snap-fit ledgemeans 49 and a reduced free end tongue 66 that has edges 67 disposedperpendicular to the inboard sides of the ledge means 49 but beingadapted to be engaged by the peripheral edge means 25 of the circuitboards 21 and 22 at the end edges 68 thereof all the way to the free endedges 69 of the tongues 66 which will be disposed in substantiallyabutting relation with the end edges ,69 of the legs 50 of the otherU-shaped bracket member 26 as illustrated in FIG. 10 whereby theU-shaped bracket members 26 substantially close the space 28 between thetwo circuit boards 21 and 22 when the two U-shaped bracket members 26are fully disposed in place on the circuit boards 21 and 22.

The snap-fit ledge means 49 each has an inner flat surface 70 and anouter flat surface 71 interconnected together by a camming flat surface49' and which are adapted to respectively snap into a respective notch48 of the respective circuit board 21 or 22 that defines opposed spacedapart flat edges 72 and 73 which will be respectively engaged by thesurfaces 70 and 71 of the snap-fit ledge means 49 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 10 so as to interconnect the respective leg 50 ofthe respective U-shaped bracket member 26 to both circuit boards 21 and22, the cam surfaces 49' of the snap-fit ledge means 49 camming therespective leg 50 of the respective bracket member 26 outwardly as therespective bracket member 26 is nested with the respective ends 55 or 56of the circuit boards 21 and 22 until the ledge means 49 align with therespective notches 48 and snap therein through the natural spring forceof the legs 50 to spring back into uncammed condition thereof.

If desired, each leg 50 can be supported to its respective cross member51 by reinforcing rib means 74 and 75 as illustrated in FIG. 9.

Therefore, it can be seen that regardless of which U-shaped bracketmember 26 is provided for the top or bottom edges 55 and 56 of thecircuit boards 21 and 22, the bracket members 26 are symmetrical or likeand can be snap-fit thereto whereby the wires 58 at the top edge means55 of the boards 21 and 22 will be held in spaced relation by the ribs64' passing therebetween as the tabs 53 are received in the slots 64 andthe snap-fit ledges 49 are snapped into the cooperating notches 48 in asimple and effective manner by the method of this invention aspreviously described.

Thus, it can be seen that the U-shaped bracket members 26 not only holdthe circuit boards 21 and 22 in the spaced apart parallel relationthereof, but also the U-shaped bracket members 26 support the peripheraledge means 25 of the circuit boards 21 and 22 almost completely aroundthe entire circuit boards 21 and 22 so as to prevent breaking of thesame if forces are applied thereto, such as at the corners thereof oranywhere along the same. Therefore, a relatively solid structure isprovided by the interconnected bracket members 26 and circuit boards 21and 22.

In addition, it can be seen that the bracket members 26 generally engageand encircle the peripheral edge means 25 of the circuit board means 21and 22 so as to generally close the space 28 between the two circuitboard means 21 and 22 generally around the entire peripheral edge means25 thereof so as to prevent dirt, grease, etc. from entering the space28 therebetween.

The thus described control device 20 of this invention is adapted tohave the cover 33 fastened thereto in a manner now to be described.

The U-shaped bracket members 26 of the control device 20 each has afront edge 76 provided with a plurality of tabs 77 extending outwardlytherefrom in spaced apart relation and each having a snap-fit ledgemeans 78 defining an inside flat surface 79 and an outside flat surface80 interconnected together by a flat camming surface 78' as well as byopposed side edges 81. Such snap-fit ledge means 78 of each tab 77 isadapted to be received in a cooperating slot means 82 formed in thecover member 33 that comprises a rectangular cup-shaped structure thathas a front wall 83 and sidewalls 84, each slot 82 defining an edge 85on the sidewall 84 and an edge 86 on the front wall 83 while definingside edges 87 on both the front wall 83 and the sidewall 84 so as tocooperate with a respective tab means 77 of the bracket structure 27.

In particular, as the cover member 33 is pushed toward the componentside 23 of the circuit board 21 of the control device 20 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 10, the tabs 77 are respectively received in theslot means 82 and the cam surfaces 78' of the ledge means 78 thereof camon the inside surface means of the sidewall means 84 of the cover member33 until the surfaces 79 of the tabs 77 align with the edges 85 of theslots 82 to permit the surfaces 79 to snap-fit past the edges 85 underthe spring back force of the tabs 77 at approximately the same time thatthe rear edge 88 of the sidewall 84 of the cover member 33 engages thefront edge 76 of the flange 61 of the respective bracket member 26 asillustrated in FIG. 1, the edges 86 in the cover member 33 beingsufficiently spaced from the flat side 79 of the respective tab 77 topermit such flexure of the tabs 77 until the edges 79 thereof snap overthe edges 85 of the cover member 33.

In this manner, it can be seen that it is a relatively simple method ofthis invention to snap the cover member 33 in place on the controldevice 20 to cover the component side 23 of the circuit board 21 asillustrated in FIG. 1.

If desired, the cover member 33 can be provided with side mounting tabs90 that have openings 91 passing therethrough for mounting the controldevice 20 to any desired structure of the cooking apparatus utilizingthe same.

While the control device 20 previously described has a particular covermember 33 snap-fit thereto as previously set forth, it is to beunderstood that the control device 20 could be secured to otherstructure as desired.

Therefore, reference is now made to FIGS. 2 and 11-13 wherein anothercontrol device of this invention is generally indicated by the referencenumeral 20A and parts thereof similar to parts of the control device 20previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followedby the reference letter "A".

The control device 20A is substantially identical to the control device20 previously set forth except that the tabs 77A extending from thebracket members 26A each has a pair of shoulders 100 extending outwardlybeyond the snap-fit ledge means 78A thereof and being spaced rearwardlyfrom the snap-fit edges 79A by a distance that is substantially equal tothe thickness of a mounting plate means 101 to which the control device20A is to be interconnected.

In particular, the mounting plate 101 is formed of any suitable materialand has a substantially rectangular opening 102 passing therethrough,the plate 101 comprising a substantially flat member having opposed flatparallel sides 103 and 104, such as provided by a metallic plate or thelike. The rectangular opening 102 in the plate 101 defines a pluralityof rectangular notches 105 that respectively define edges 106 aroundwhich a respective snap-fit ledge means 78A of the control device 20Acan snap in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 while theshoulders 100 of the respective tab means 77A abut against the side 104of the plate 103 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 13 to hold the plate101 between the surfaces 79A and shoulders 100.

Thus, it can be seen that the control device 20A is adapted to besnap-fit to the mounting plate 101 in a simple and effective manner sothat the plate 101 can be secured to the desired structure of a cookingapparatus or the like that has its own cover means for covering thefacing component side 23A of the circuit board 21A.

Another control device of this invention is generally indicated by thereference numeral 20B in FIGS. 14 and 15 and parts thereof similar tothe parts of the control devices 20 and 20A previously described areindicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter"B".

As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 it can be seen that the control device20B of this invention is substantially identical to the control device20 previously described except that the component side 23B of thecircuit board 21B does not have the rotary switch component 31 nor thetactile switch means 32 mounted thereon even though the same has thevacuum fluorescent display means 30B mounted thereon (as well as othercomponents 29B that are not shown). This is because a different covermember 33B is utilized with the control device 20B and has slots 82Btherein for cooperating with the tangs 77B of the control device 20B tobe snap-fit thereto in the manner previously described so that thefluorescent display 30B is exposed at a window 34B of the cover member33B.

While the cover member 33B can be formed of any suitable material, thesame can be formed of metallic material and have mounting flanges 110provided at opposite ends thereof as illustrated.

In addition, the cover means 33B has a sheet 111 of electricallyinsulating material, such as plastic, secured to the front plate 83Bthereof and is provided with a tab 112 which is adapted to pass througha slot 113 in the front plate 83B of the cover member 33B to extendrearwardly therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 16 and be coupled with thecircuit board means 21B and/or 22B in a manner to electricallyinterconnect with certain of the electrical circuitry thereof.

For example, the front surface 114 of the sheet 111 has printedconductive circuit means 115 thereon which is formed in a spaced patternin areas 116 to define switch means that are completed when a personpresses a finger thereagainst in a bridging manner to operate as switchmeans. Of course, tactile conductive means can be utilized to providethe bridging relation for the areas 116 in a manner well known in theart.

In any event, it can be seen that the printed circuit means 115 on thesheet 111 interconnect the areas 116 through the tab means 112 to thecircuit means on the board means 21B and/or 22B.

Therefore, it can be seen that various cover means or mounting platescan be secured to the control devices of this invention and that thesame can be snap-fit thereto by utilizing unique means of the mountingbracket means of the control devices of this invention in the mannerpreviously described.

While the various control devices of this invention have two likecircuit boards, it is to be understood that more than two circuit boardscan be provided, the circuit boards can have other configurations thanrectangular and each board can have a different configuration in thesame control device, if desired.

In any event, the bracket members of this invention act as trusses tosupport parallel layers or circuit boards and prevent warping thereofwhen pressure is applied perpendicular to the parallel surfaces thereof.For example, when placing fast on terminals and/or 1/0 headers near theouter perimeters of the circuit boards, the bracket members of thisinvention provide support for the push on insertion forces and/or pulloff extraction forces of such interfacing wiring terminals. In addition,the support provided by the bracket members of this invention to thecircuit boards prevent the forces being applied thereto by an abusiveoperator pushing on the different switch means of the key-board thereofand/or using the rotary switch means thereof from breaking the circuitboards as it has been found that such abusive forces or even normal useforces tend to break the poorly supported circuit boards of prior knowncontrol devices.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention not only provides a newcontrol device, but also this invention provides a new method of makingsuch a control device.

While the forms and methods of this invention now preferred have beenillustrated and described as required by the Patent Statute, it is to beunderstood that other forms and method steps can be utilized and stillfall within the scope of the appended claims wherein each claim setsforth what is believed to be known in each claim prior to this inventionin the portion of each claim that is disposed before the terms "theimprovement" and sets forth what is believed to be new in each claimaccording to this invention in the portion of each claim that isdisposed after the terms "the improvement" whereby it is believed thateach claim sets forth a novel, useful and unobvious invention within thepurview of the Patent Statute.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a control device comprising two flat andrectangular circuit boards each having a component carrying side and anopposite solder side, each said circuit board having peripheral edgemeans, and mounting means holding said two circuit boards in spacedapart parallel relation with certain sides thereof facing each other, animprovement wherein said mounting means comprises bracket means engagingand encircling said peripheral edge means of said two circuit boards soas to close the space between said two circuit boards around the entiresaid peripheral edge means thereof.
 2. A control device as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said bracket means comprise a plurality of symmetricalbracket members.
 3. A control device as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid bracket means has means snap-fitted to said two circuit boards. 4.A control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bracket meanscomprises two like U-shaped bracket members each having a cross memberand a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel legs provided withfree ends, said bracket members having said free ends of said legs in anabutting relation.
 5. A control device as set forth in claim 4 whereineach said leg of each said bracket member is snap-fitted to each saidcircuit board.
 6. A control device as set forth in claim 5 wherein eachsaid cross member of each said bracket member has slot meanstherethrough, each said circuit board having tangs extending intorespective slot means of said bracket members.
 7. A control device asset forth in claim 6 wherein said two circuit boards were initially aone-piece flat member that was subsequently broken apart into said twocircuit boards, some of said tangs of said two circuit boards havingbeen created by the breaking apart of said one-piece member.
 8. Acontrol device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said one-piece member waseffectively folded in half to produce said two circuit boards so thatlike sides thereof face each other.
 9. A control device as set forth inclaim 8 wherein said like sides comprise said solder sides of said twocircuit boards.
 10. A control device as set forth in claim 1 andcomprising a cover member that covers a non-facing side of one of saidtwo circuit boards, said bracket means having means snap-fitted to saidcover member.
 11. A control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidbracket means has means for snap-fitting to another structure.
 12. In acontrol device comprising two flat and rectangular circuit boards eachhaving a component carrying side and an opposite solder side, each saidcircuit board having peripheral edge means, and mounting means holdingsaid two circuit boards in spaced apart parallel relation with certainsides thereof facing each other, an improvement wherein said mountingmeans comprises two like U-shaped bracket members each having a crossmember and a pair of spaced apart parallel legs provided with free endsfacing said free ends of the other bracket member, said cross member andsaid legs of each bracket member engaging said peripheral edge means ofsaid two circuit boards.
 13. A control device as set forth in claim 12wherein each said leg of each said bracket member is snap-fitted to eachsaid circuit board.
 14. A control device as set forth in claim 13wherein each said cross member of each said bracket member has slotmeans therethrough, each said circuit board having tangs extending intorespective slot means of said bracket members.
 15. A control device asset forth in claim 12 and comprising a cover member that covers anon-facing side of one of said two circuit boards, said bracket meanshaving means snap-fitted to said cover member.
 16. A control device asset forth in claim 12 wherein said bracket means has means forsnap-fitting to another structure.
 17. In a method of making a controldevice comprising two flat and rectangular circuit boards each having acomponent carrying side and an opposite solder side, each said circuitboard having peripheral edge means, and mounting means holding said twocircuit boards in spaced apart parallel relation with certain sidesthereof facing each other, an improvement comprising the step of formingsaid mounting means to comprise bracket means that engage and encirclesaid peripheral edge means of said two circuit boards so as to close thespace between said two circuit boards around the entire said peripheraledge means thereof.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 17 and comprisingthe step of snap-fitting said bracket means to said two circuit boards.19. A method as set forth in claim 17 and comprising the steps offorming said two circuit boards to initially be a one-piece flat member,thereafter, breaking said one-piece member into said two circuit boardsthat are interconnected together by wire means in a spaced apartcoplanar relation thereof, and then folding said two circuit boards atsaid wire means thereof into said spaced apart parallel relationthereof.
 20. A method as set forth in claim 17 and comprising the stepof snap-fitting a cover member to said bracket means so that said covermember covers a non-facing side of one of said two circuit boards.